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“It is more easily applied in your human form,” Felicity soothed, “but it is understandable if you wish to Change.”
“We do this all the time, missus,” Marshall said. “This lot can’t keep still when they’re, eh, running loose, and that poultice won’t stay bound if he’s haring all over the place.” He mitigated his salty tone by scrubbing the boy’s hair.
Mr. Marshall was careful not to reveal the identity of his charge’s essential creature but what could the lad be but a horse? Apart from his large eyes, Ash was leggy and loose in the way of a colt, and the hair on his head was long and coarse. And in fairness, they were on Felicity’s premises with the stable master. The clues were in the context.So there, Timothy.
“I observe from the wrinkling of your nose that the smell is putting you off.” Tabitha set the bowl down on the main counter and shook out a length of cheesecloth.
“Never scented the like, miss,” Ash admitted.
“I do not expect anyone to follow my prescriptions unquestioningly.” She heaved her trug closer to dig through it. “You have a good nose, young Ash, for you most likely have not come across this plant before. I have used a type of witch hazel distilled from a tree only found in southern Italy. Its odor is rather more pungent than those in our native land, and I expect in your Shape, it would be even more so.”
“That it would, miss,” Marshall agreed.
“It is also very dark in hue.” She held out a small vial of the stuff for Ash to inspect. “It’s better applied to your manskin, as I fear it might stain your coat.”
“My coat, miss?”
“You are a gray, are you not?” She was greeted by a round of incredulous expressions. “Have I misspoken? I apologize for my carelessness if this is against your law.”
“It’s not that, miss, it’s that ahomo plenusoughtn’t to be able to tell.” Ash sounded impressed, so perhaps she hadn’t made too flagrant a mistake.
“Nevertheless, I feel I have transgressed. I am still learning your ways and am bound to err now and again.”
“I’ve been here for donkey’s years,” Marshall said, “and my wife is aversipellis, and I still haven’t quite got the knack of it.”
“It’s right impressive,” Ash agreed. The young lad handed back the vial of witch hazel and extended his sore hand. “I reckon you know what you’re about.”
“That is high praise, indeed.” Tabitha smiled, and with explanations for every move she made, she proceeded to tend to Ash’s injury.
***
At the opposite end of the village, Alfred and his Third, Sebastian Gambon, headed for a disused building Matthias was intent upon refurbishing.
It was a recurring theme these days in Lowell Close. And in the park, come to that. Alfred had been bonded for less than a week when the request to lodge the Duke of Llewellyn had come from His Highness; he had overseen the work himself, though it meant his new bride was left alone in their bed in the early hours. What little he knew of lions, he hoped he put to good use: the dwelling backed on to the highest hill in Lowell’s wild park, giving Alwyn vantage over all. He hoped the myriad windows were enough and at the same time not too much; were they too exposing? Alfred thought being unable to see out was worse and erred on the side of an excess of curtains. In the end, the cottage was compact and cozy and manageable for a bachelor living on his own.
Alfred and his wolf both cringed at the thought of living alone. By nature, lupines craved company, and if that need was not satisfied, well, then, to use Miss Barrington’s poorly chosen term, they went feral. Alfred did not think isolation was the best choice for the lion Shifter, despite the natural feline drive for independence. However, Georgie had decreed this must be, and at least the Welsh duke had not run off or run rampant.
It was Alfred’s duty to hold the health and safety of his pack as paramount. Hissentiohad grown more robust with his marriage to Felicity; as his bond with hisvera amorisdeepened every day, every hour, it strengthened the entire pack. A strange predator not woven into that web had an adverse impact on all and was the reason he sought Sebastian’s counsel. Large in stature and gentle in spirit, the boar Shifter was responsible for addressing issues of the pack at ground level, and there was no one better to assess Llewellyn’s effect on Alfred’s people.
His people, whose presence in thesentiowas muted.
It was not unknown that a Shifter could block their connection to the Alpha of their flock or herd or clowder; in this instance, it was as though his pack was unwilling to allow him into their state of wellbeing—or otherwise.
“I do not understand why they are keeping their distance,” Alfred said. “Are they afraid Llewellyn will challenge me, and thus seek to preserve my strength?”
“Your ability to protect us is not in question. It is confusion that is affecting the flow, not fear.” Gambon hummed deep in his chest before choosing his words with care. “I can only speak for myself. I do not know what to think of His Grace, for if I think too long on what he suffered, I am filled with anger and despair.” The boar looked around at the busy industry of the village, the shopkeepers and craftspeople and artisans all engaged as to their specific talents. “I believe this is the same for the pack. Yes, he is a great predator, and a duke as well. Keeping their distance from him, until he makes himself known to us, is correct. But first and foremost, Llewellyn is an object not of pity but compassion. That he is wandering among us, alone, after such an ordeal… Again, I cannot bear to think on it.”
“Speaking of bears.” Sebastian snorted, and Alfred continued, “His Highness is impatiently awaiting news of His Grace’s rehabilitation.”
“He no longer slinks about under cover of night,” Sebastian said. “Today, he spent time with Delilah, who deigned not to bite him. He was seen with Miss Barrington earlier this morning. Several of our unmated lads have set their sights on the lady apothecary and came upon the two as they made their first attempts at courtship.”
“I hope they conducted themselves with decorum?”
“Yes, as well as bearing gifts. Although what Padmore proffered is anyone’s guess.”
Alfred tried to picture the lady with the frog and could not. “I will let Her Grace know so she may offer up any advice. As a human female who was courted by one of us.”
Gambon looked askance at that; Alfred knew his approach to wooing was held in low regard by all. The boar shook his head and said, “What could possibly go wrong.”
